South Eastern school district approves renovation contracts

The South Eastern school district in January approved the bids for four aspects of renovations at its three elementary schools.

That keeps the district on schedule to begin work in June after students have left for the summer.

The total cost of the contracts is $12.8 million. The largest is for upgrading the heating and air conditioning, which was awarded to Lancaster-based Frey Lutz for $6.1 million. The general construction contract was awarded to eciConstruction for $2.9 million.

The district plans to start the renovations at Delta-Peach Bottom Elementary in June, with six to eight months for each project. Work will move to Fawn Area Elementary and finish at Stewartstown Elementary. All three projects are expected to be finished by December 2015.

Students will not be in the buildings during the work.

At a January meeting, the board approved renting Chanceford Elementary from the Red Lion Area School District for students and staff, said South Eastern's business manager Mary Childress. The building is vacant, and both districts will vote to approve a contract for the rental this month, Childress said.

The plan is to move all the students and faculty from whichever South Eastern building is being renovated to Chanceford Elementary during the construction process, Childress said.

Renovations: The renovation project will update the heating and air conditioning systems in each school and will include building more secure entrances to the schools. Additional cameras for security purposes are also being added.

Part of the renovations will include geothermal heating and cooling systems. The schools are also pursuing silver certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which would mean the schools comply with regulations that conserve resources while also cutting down on utility costs.

The additional two contracts were awarded: to Lobar Inc. for electrical work at an estimated $3.05 million and to LPS Plumbing and Heating Inc. for $804,280 to complete the plumbing work.